Cramps in my side.

By minblack59

1 min read

I was diagnosed with COPD 3 weeks ago. I already had asthma and had quit smoking one year ago. I was given a portable nebulizer and started doing my treatments 3 times a day. Last week I was doing nothing out of the ordinary just sitting on chair on computer, I had gotten a cramp in my chest on my ribs to my back. Have no clue what I did to get it. Hurts very much, very hard to breathe and my husband thinks I'm nuts! The doctor has no clue and no clue how to get rid of it. I am on 800mg tablets for my back so I have been taking one of those when I get a pain, which is every day! Sometimes 2 or more times a day! I wish this crazy pain would stop! I thought I was the only person getting it!

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Leon Lebowitz, RRTMember
Hi Phil and welcome. I'm sorry to hear you're having such difficulties following your surgical procedure(s). While we cannot provide medical advice over the internet (for your own safety), your experiences does warrant a response. As you can see from this forum, others in our community have spoken about rib cramping. I thought you might find it helpful to look over this article on that subject: <a href='https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping/</a> We also have some material that focuses on 'bloating and COPD'. Here is part 1:https://copd.net/living/bloating-part-1/ And here is part 2: <a href='https://copd.net/living/bloating-part-2' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/bloating-part-2/</a> I hope your find them helpful as well. If these symptoms that you've described persist or even worsen - you may want to ask your doctor(s) about them and see what they suggest. Please check back with us and let us know how you're doing. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
Leon Lebowitz, RRTMember
Hi Venusdelycra - that does sound like a significant episode of pain. Were you able to do anything to get past it, or did you just wait it out. Please check back with us and let us know how you're doing. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
Leon Lebowitz, RRTMember
Hi Ginabrotherton and thanks for expressing your concern about COPD and cramping. Other community members have also referred to this as 'rib cramping'. I thought, in view of your comment, that you might find it helpful to review the material we have published here on <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a> about this very topic: <a href='https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping/</a> All the best, Leon (site moderator)
yessy2017Member
Thanks! I smoked for 17 yrs, I quit because the pain on my rib area & shortness of breath became worse. I had a partial nephrectomy on 11/7 for Kidney Cancer, afterwards my lung became worse. I'm still recovering but I do plan to exercise when I'm well. Hopefully it would work for me as well.
Leon Lebowitz, RRTMember
Hi Breathe Easier and Yessy2017. We appreciate your comments about exercise, pulmonary rehab and rib cramping. In view of (both of) your comments, I thought you might find it helpful to read: first, our community member's say about rib cramps: <a href='https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping/</a> and second, a little bit about pulmonary rehabilitation:https://copd.net/living-with-copd/pulmonary-rehab/ Wishing you both well, Leon (site moderator)